Dry-plate holder



(No Model.)

B. L. BERGSTRESSER.

DRY PLATE HOLDER. v

Patented June 17, 1884.

IJV'VEW'TOR N. PETERS, Pmwumo n hur. Wdsllingtnn, D. c.

FFlGEt EDlV IN L. BERGSTRESSER, OF HUBLERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRY-PLATE HOLDER.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,438, dated June 17,1884.

Application filed March 28, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, EnwrN L. Bnnes'rnnssnn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Hublersburg, in the county of Centre and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Dry-Plate Holder, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a dry-plate holder or cabinet, and it has forits object to provide a device of this character for retaining plateswhich shall thoroughly prevent any access of light to the same whilethey are being removedfrom said cabinet for exposure in the camera, and,further, to provide improved means whereby it may be plainly visible thenumber of unexposed plates that are in the holder.

XVith these ends in View the invention consists in the improvedconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, andpointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figurel is a perspective view of myimproved cabinet orplate-holder, showing the devices for withdrawing a plate from thecabinet for exposure. Fig. is a rear elevation, the casing being'brokenaway. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 4 is a transversesection.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer tocorresponding parts in the several figures, A is an outer box or casing,which is preferably of the form shown. Upon the bottom or floor of thiscasing are secured strips a for the plate-holders to slide upon. Uponthe outer side of the rear end of the box or casing A is provided a diskhaving numbers marked corresponding to the number of plates the casing Ais adapted to contain, or, if preferable, these numbers may be markeddirectly 011 the casing itself.

0 represents a hand or indicator adapted to travel around said disk orfigures, making one movement as each plate is inserted in the easing A,as will be more fully described. This hand or indicator 0 is rigidlymounted on a shaft, E, having bearing in the rear end of the casing, andprovided 011 its inner side with a ratchet-wheel, G. Upon the inner sideof the end of the casing A, adjacent to the ratchetwheel, is provided apivoted pawl, H, adapted to bear against the upper side of saidratchetwheel, said pawl being held in position thereon by means of aspring, I, secured upon the inner side of the said end.

J represents a lever, which is pivoted between two of the strips a, andis provided at its forward end with an upwardly-projecting arm adaptedto bear against and operate the ratchet-wheel from the under sidethereof, and

held in position by means of a spring, which is recessed or cut away atits end to form arms, which inclose the end of said arm and prevent anylateral movement of the same.

K represents a partition-strip,which in closes said mechanism, and whichis provided with a bracket, 2), for the reception of the end of theratchet-shaft. The forward end of the actuating-lever is provided withan upwardly-proj ecting extension, 0. The lever is also provided at itsforward end and upon the underside thereof with a coil-spring,whichbears against the lioor of the casing at its other end, and serves toreturn the lever to its proper position after it has been depressed bythe insertion of a plate. Upon the cover of the casing are providedslots (1 d, having grooves in their sides for the passage of slides 0,having 011 their under side depending lugs to limit the forward movementfurther than to open the said slot. l

K represents strips inclosing said slots, the same being recessed orcutaway at their ends, as will be described.

L represents a pusher, which is provided 011 its lower end with a slotto fit over the upwardly-projecting extension of the lever, and

provided with a rod detaehably secured to its rear side, the other endof said rod projecting through the casing, and provided with a handle orknob for operating the same. Upon one of the inner sides, adjacent tothe pusher, is provided a flat spring, I), which, when a plate isinserted in the cabinet, holds the same in an upright position until itcan be moved forward by the'pusher, thus preventing all liability of theplate dropping, which would otherwise be the case, and. to place theplate in an upright position, as would be necessary before it could bepushed forward, would necessitate the removal or lifting of the cover,and consequently the damaging exposure of the plates.

In using the above-described cabinet I employ a casing, as shown, thesame being provided with a slide or shutter upon its side and with aslide upon its lower edge. In the upper edge of this shutter is provideda screwthreadedbracket, having communication with the inner side of thesaid shutter.

X represents a rod, provided at its upper end with a knob or handle andat its lower end with a screw thread. This shutter is adapted to beplaced directly over the rear slot, d, of the cover, fitting between thestrips inclosing the same, its lower slide fitting in the recessedportion in the end of the same. The holders containing the dry platesare p revidedwith screw-threzuled brackets upon their upper sides, andare situated one, or the rear one, directly under said screw -threadedrod. To withdraw a plate the slides are withdrawn and the rod screwedinto the bracket of the plate-holder, and the same then raised into theshutter. The slide of the shutter is then closed and the shutterremoved. After the plate has been exposed and it is desired to returnthe same to the cabinet or easing, the shutter containing the plate isplaced over the slot d, the slides withdrawn, and the plate inserted inthe casing by means of the rod, the plate-holder depressing the end ofthe lever and registering l on the dial, thus showing that one exposedplate is in the box. The plateholders are then moved forward by means ofthe pusher.

It will be seen from the above description that by the use of myimprovement a plate may be readily withdrawn from the casing forexposure, and placed therein for developing at some future time, withoutany possibility of exposure to the light.

It will also be seen that by the use of the devices described it isreadily apparent at all times the number of plates that have beenexposed, and deducting the number of plates that have been exposed fromthe number the box contains or is adapted to contain (as the box isusually tilled) shows exactly how many plates there are yet left forexposure, thus preventing any confusion or exposure of plates that hadalready been operated upon.

IlIavi ng fully described my inventiomwhat I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Iatent, is-

11.. A. cabinet for containing plates, provided with n'ieehanism whichaulolnatilail ly registers each plate upon a dial as it placed thereinalter exposure, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cabinet for holding plates, the com bination, with mechanism:l'or automatically registering each plate as it is inserted, ot' apusher for moving the plates forward, substantially as set forth.

3. In a cabinet for holding plates, the combination, with a suitabledial having ligures marked thereon, of a shalt carrying a ratchetwheel,and. an indicator, and a lever provided with means for operating saidratchet-wheel, as set forth.

In a cabinet for holding plates, the combination, with a suitable dialhaving :ligures marked thereon, of a shaft carrying an indicator, andratchet wheel, a spring pressed pawl engaging said ratchet-wheel, and alever provided at its forward end with an arm to engage saidratchet-wheel, substantially as set forth.

5. In a cabinet for holding plates, the combination, with a dial havingfigures marked thereon, of a shaft carrying a ratchet-whccl andindicator, and having bearing at its rear end in a bracket secured td' astrip inelosing said ratchet-wheel, a spring-pressed pawl adapted toengage. said ratchetwheel, and a lever provided with an arm foractuating the same, substantially as set forth.

6. In a cabinet for holding plates, the combinatiol'i, with a dialhaving figures marked thereon, of a shaft carrying a ratchet-wheel andindicator, a spring-pressed pawl adapted to engage said ratchet-wheel,alever provided with. an arm at its forward end for actuating saidratchet-wheel, a spring for retz'iining the same in position, said.lever being provided at its forward end with an upwardly-pro]ectingextension, and a coil-spring, located between the end ol said lever andthe door, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

ll. L. jl'llGI-ZGS'IJtESfilllt.

lVitnesses:

1:1. .llil'nrrziu, i. S. Kampala.

